A85

[np288]

hey so far ive been pretty much set on buying a brand new canon A80 but am waiting for the price to fall a bit. the question is :

(1) do u think prices on the A80 are likely to rise or to fall after new years?
(2) the canon A85 is available at buydig.com for 201 dollars!! should i just buy it? is it comparable to the A80?

Please advise!

[isis]

I just bought the A85. It's a solid little camera with good manual controls and I can always get a great picture in any light. My only complaint is the response time from picture to picture. I't a little slow. For $200 I don't think you can get a better 4 mp camera. Go for it!

[Newbie]

Sensor-wise, the A80 is a better choice than the A85... but I doubt the prices will fall any more... The A95(successor to the A80) came out in August and the A80 is already quite hard to find. If I were you, I'd choose between the A80 and A75... and since you seem to have a somewhat limited budget, I guess u can't beat the price of the A75. It will give you photo quality prints up to 5x7 and excellent prints at 8x10.

[Prah]

the A80 is out of production. Search around and you may find a play getting rid of it for the same price as the A85. It's still in demand because it's such a good camera. It is much better than the A75 and A85.

[np288]

well its boiling down to the following:

A85 available newfor $200
A75 available new for $180

A80 and A95 cost the same (new) ie $280.

so its really between the first two.
sensor for 75 better. fps is 2.2 as compared to 85's 1.5, battery life is 800 as compared to 85's 160 images and yet ive heard so MANY complaints abt the 75 and yeah its got fewer mpixels...

what shd i do?!

[mikefoster]

Is the A80 so much better that the A85 that it would warrant buying a refurbished A80 over a new A85?

[Newbie]

Just for the record... the A75 lasts for 800 shots with NiMH batteries while the A85 lasts for 140 shots with alkaline batteries, so its really not comparable datas... besides for the A75, they mention 50% LCD use and I presume it will be closer to 100%... Jeff estimates that 140 pictures with alkaline will mean 280 with NiMH... Based on my current experience, this is very wrong.

I own the A95 and with the included alkaline batteries, I could take roughly 40-50 shots. With some brand new NiMH 2300 mAh batteries I could take 209 shots with the 1st set and 284 shots with the second set. With that being said, keep in mind that NiMH batteries are not full power on their first charge, it takes about 5 for them to reach their full potential.

So that brings me to believe that both the A75 and A85 have the same battery life... but I still believe that the A75 is better than the A85 in all aspects except for the megapixel count which way overratted. because both 3 and 4mp are so similar